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Val Ryker #3
Dead Too Soon
A VOW OF REVENGE
Though a remorseless killer, Dixon Hess went to prison for the one crime he didn't commit, and he promised to destroy those responsible. Police Chief Valerie Ryker triumphed over incredible odds, sending Hess back behind bars. But now Hess has broken free, and the entire Wisconsin town of Lake Loyal is in danger.
A COMMUNITY GRIPPED BY FEAR
When a school bus crashes on a snowy morning, Chief Ryker and her sometime boyfriend Fire Chief David Lund race to respond to the collision. As they rescue the children, it becomes clear this was no accident… but the launch of a monster's newest diabolical scheme.
A RACE AGAINST TIME
With everything Val holds dear at risk and precious time running out, Val and Lund must turn to a cop named Jack Daniels and an assassin named Chandler for help. But all the help in the world won't stop a rampaging Hess, and Val is about to learn what it feels like to sacrifice everything she loves… and everything she is.
From nationally-bestselling and award-winning author Ann Voss Peterson comes the highly anticipated third novel in the Val Ryker thriller series. Dead Too Soon follows Pushed Too Far and Burned Too Hot. The novel is approximately 80,000 words long.
Though a remorseless killer, Dixon Hess went to prison for the one crime he didn't commit, and he promised to destroy those responsible. Police Chief Valerie Ryker triumphed over incredible odds, sending Hess back behind bars. But now Hess has broken free, and the entire Wisconsin town of Lake Loyal is in danger.
A COMMUNITY GRIPPED BY FEAR
When a school bus crashes on a snowy morning, Chief Ryker and her sometime boyfriend Fire Chief David Lund race to respond to the collision. As they rescue the children, it becomes clear this was no accident… but the launch of a monster's newest diabolical scheme.
A RACE AGAINST TIME
With everything Val holds dear at risk and precious time running out, Val and Lund must turn to a cop named Jack Daniels and an assassin named Chandler for help. But all the help in the world won't stop a rampaging Hess, and Val is about to learn what it feels like to sacrifice everything she loves… and everything she is.
From nationally-bestselling and award-winning author Ann Voss Peterson comes the highly anticipated third novel in the Val Ryker thriller series. Dead Too Soon follows Pushed Too Far and Burned Too Hot. The novel is approximately 80,000 words long.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2016
194 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Ann Voss Peterson
106 books102 followersAnn Voss Peterson is the author of over thirty novels and has millions of books in print all over the globe. Winner of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award and a Rita finalist, Ann is known for her adrenaline-fueled thrillers and romantic suspense novels, including the Codename: Chandler spy thrillers she writes with J.A. Konrath and her own thriller series featuring small town Wisconsin police chief Val Ryker.
A creative writing major in college, Ann worked all manner of jobs after graduation, ranging from grooming show horses to washing windows, and now she draws on her wide variety of life experiences to fill her fictional worlds with compelling energy and undeniable emotion.
She lives near Madison, Wisconsin with her family and their border collie.
A creative writing major in college, Ann worked all manner of jobs after graduation, ranging from grooming show horses to washing windows, and now she draws on her wide variety of life experiences to fill her fictional worlds with compelling energy and undeniable emotion.
She lives near Madison, Wisconsin with her family and their border collie.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 30, 2019
Good read.
This book finished up a lot of loose ends from books 1 and 2. The series is definitely best read in order from the beginning to understand just how bad Hess really is. By this book, I wanted someone - anyone! to kill the guy.
This book finished up a lot of loose ends from books 1 and 2. The series is definitely best read in order from the beginning to understand just how bad Hess really is. By this book, I wanted someone - anyone! to kill the guy.
September 6, 2021
I read the first two books in this series and really liked them. They are excellent thrillers. But this one totally blew me away. It started with a boom and built from there, not letting up until the end. I couldn't stop reading it even though I was supposed to be doing other things.:) Talk about a thriller! There was also an excellent romance involved but it just pushed the plot farther and harder. Must go get more of her books!
December 10, 2019
Best read in order, then you know the characters, finish’s up some of the loose ends. Hess went to prison once, saying not guilty, breaks out, wanting revenge. Everything Val loves he wants to destroy . They work together will anything stop him and the havoc he is causing. Good series
September 19, 2020
Law enforcement
The story was not really complicated enough to have me unable to out it down. But just enough to make good reading. This was a story that incorporated several different law enforcement agencies and had several different side tracks. A nice detective story.
The story was not really complicated enough to have me unable to out it down. But just enough to make good reading. This was a story that incorporated several different law enforcement agencies and had several different side tracks. A nice detective story.
June 28, 2017
Another hit!
Just great is about all I can say. If you keep up with Ann's books, then you will enjoy this one just like the rest! Intense, heart pounding, thriller of a book!
Just great is about all I can say. If you keep up with Ann's books, then you will enjoy this one just like the rest! Intense, heart pounding, thriller of a book!
December 31, 2019
Excellent read. I always enjoy Peterson's books, but I especially like the ones where characters from co-authors' books come together in one story. I rate this one 5 stars.
November 16, 2020
Hard to put this book down!
Very good book with lots of twists and turns and edge of your seat suspense wondering what was coming next! Hard book to put down!
Very good book with lots of twists and turns and edge of your seat suspense wondering what was coming next! Hard book to put down!
October 23, 2024
good thriller
The ending was a little confusing. Had to reread some of it to get the picture, but over all I enjoyed the book.
The ending was a little confusing. Had to reread some of it to get the picture, but over all I enjoyed the book.
September 16, 2025
Good book with a lot of twists and turns. A lot of loose ends came together. And there is another book to go!
December 26, 2018
AVP. had. penned a mystery about a border line, if not, serial killer who she has a hand in seeing that he was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced for his horrid crimes. The man arrived at the prison and shortly thereafter he is able to escape. The police begin a manhunt, but our detective knows him like a book. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
July 15, 2016
This has been the best so far in the series - riveting, and very well described, especially the physical exertions of Lund, Grace and Val, as they battle the 'monster', Dixon Hess. The scenery and weather are also completely imaginable.
I'm not sure if I believe that Hess is actually dead though .....
Book 4 coming up!
I'm not sure if I believe that Hess is actually dead though .....
Book 4 coming up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2016
DEAD TOO SOON
The third book in the Val Ryker series, enjoyed this one the most of the three. A lot of the angst from the first two books finally gets cleared up. Jack Daniels and Harry McGlade made their presence known in this book. Good read.
The third book in the Val Ryker series, enjoyed this one the most of the three. A lot of the angst from the first two books finally gets cleared up. Jack Daniels and Harry McGlade made their presence known in this book. Good read.
May 19, 2016
Dead Too Soon
This is the third book in the Val Ryker series. This is a very good thriller series .I highly recommend it
This is the third book in the Val Ryker series. This is a very good thriller series .I highly recommend it
July 7, 2016
Of note: I cried at 25%
August 7, 2016
Great read!
An actioned packed thriller. Stayed true to the Val Ryker series. Good suspense and of course your token psychopath out for revenge.
An actioned packed thriller. Stayed true to the Val Ryker series. Good suspense and of course your token psychopath out for revenge.
May 14, 2025
This thriller pulls you in with high stakes, sharp twists, and a relentless villain. A gripping read that keeps the pressure on from start to finish.
July 17, 2020
Scary thriller. Made my pulse race. Hard to put down, even read during lunch breaks at work.
March 29, 2017
Nice wrap up to the trilogy.
June 25, 2018
The last of the Val Ryker series. Great read. Be sure and check out her Chandler series also.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews